The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-16
WORDS FROM THE WESLEYAN.
The Commencement Exercises There
Miss PariShs ESSAY

MACON, GA, June IA short letter
from the midst of the commencement cele-
brations of the Wesleyan Female College
may not be amiss. Very little, compare
| lively, is known in Savannah concerning
the record, achievements and present stand
ing of this mother of female colleges
Although the oldest chartered college de-
voted to the education of the gentler sex in
the world, although it has graduated more
than |, 100 pupils, and it is about entering
upon the tiftieth year of its illustrious exist
ence with a magnificent and completed
building. Savannah has sent to its walls
very few of her daughters, and has always
been conspicuous in her lack of patronage
The institution has always been eminently
worthy of patronage, its location and sur
roundings advantageous, and the facilities
offered for the right kind of an education
exceptionally good. In view of this, and
the proximity to Savannah, it seems re-
markable that so few of our girls are sent
here.
There have been 2S4 matriculates during
the present year. There are forty-five in
the present graduating class Yesterday
and today have been filed up with the
| usual commencement exercises, and to-
morrow will be commencement day-the
special day of the week. Among the
seniors reading to-day was Miss
Alice Parish, Of our city, daughter of
| pondent has had the pleasure of hear
| ing her read and Of listening to hearty
enconiums of her standing and conduct
| from the President of the college. She has
taken a most excellent class standing, is
popular among her fellow students and with
| the faculty, and leaves behind her record
| of which her friends may well feel proud
| The subject OF her essay to-day was 1.-THE
Forest City" and right worthily did she
treat her theme, eliciting hearty applause
and compliments.
| Next year win be celebrated the semi
centennial of the Wesleyan and the wear
will be celebrated in a way that our papers
| throughout the State ought to indorse with
| special emphasis. The Board of Trus tees
| and the faculty have begun measures look
| ing to the raising this year of $4,000 for the
purpose of building and equipping a build
| ing to be known as the pierce Memorial
Hall" In this it is proposed to have
| thoroughly taught bookkeeping, typewrt-
ing, stenography, telegraphy and other in
dustries and occupations designed
TO prepare our girls for honor
able and remunerative employment. In
other words, the Wesleyan proposes TO
establish, in addition to her present depart
ments. a chronological and industrial school
for girls, and TO make the expense incident
to its attendance very moderate. The
authorities have recognized the demand of
the women of the country for the special
training and education contemplated, and
desires in this way to attempt to meet
this demand. Your correspondent has
always had pronounced Southerners an
tipathy to everything which looks like the
unsexing of our women, rs jeoparClizing
their womanliness and refinement. But he
is obliged TO recognize the necessity now for
our paying special attention to
practical things, and TO endeavor
To furnish proper employment for
the large number of unemployed and de-
pendent females in the country. Corpora
tions and business men are employing the
sex more and more in the positions indicated,
and if onr girls are not made competent to
III them they will be imported from other
sections and our girls will be shut up gener
ally TO the necessity of employment that is
hardly supporting, such as sewing and
teaching, which generally offers
"A bleak prospect TO those COM
! PEELED TO earn living The projected eli
] terpI'ise will evidently meet with general
! favor. Il strikes a responsive chord and
starts with bright auspices The purpose
and spirit OF the plan are fully i'm keeping
with the record OF the Wcsleyan-one full
OF benefactions 10 the sex which It would
hsla nd ennoblo. CHI PIN.